plate_builder | [Open Post]

"Never underestimate those two, Reeve. They play a good game of being fools, but they know their stuff." Rufus chuckles again. "Could I ask a favor, though? Buy a bit of booze, even if just wine, on the way? I'd say a toast would not be out of line, and I shoulr be allowed to drink again."

"A few bottles for you," Reeve promises, happy. What does he care about putting money out for that? He can see his lover and make sure he's safe.

"Reeve, a few bottles for me would make me pass out." Rufus manages to sound exasperated, but amused. "Three should be fine... one for us, one for Reno and one for everyone else."

“You can be plural, love. But three it will be.” Somehow he isn’t shocked Reno needs one to himself though.

"Where's the fun in taking it that way? But I look forward to seeing you. It's been far too long."

"Indeed. I'll be there later, love."

He ends it with that, disconnecting the call and smiling a bit. Takes some hours, but later that evening he does arrive at the hotel, a few bags in hand.

Rude will come to help Reeve with the bags, obviously having no qualms wandering in the hotel, and leading the man up to the room in his usual silent way. He's even kind enough to stop Reno before he can latch onto Reeve to harass him.

"The boss will be out in a sec." Reno jabs Rude as he speaks, retaliation for the interruption of his fun. "He's trying to look all nice for some reason."

"Please don't start, Reno," Reeve sighs. "Or else I might insist on Rufus lending me your service for repairing the damage you did crashing that helicopter on my roads."

Of course there is no fire in his voice. Just a suggestion.

"Hey, blame the momma's boys for that!" He does grab the bags Reeve is carrying, turning to follow Rude into the kitchen area of the room, supposedly to help him unload, even as Rufus comes out from another area of the place with Tseng and Elena along.

Reeve's eyes are drawn the moment Rufus enters. And he pauses. His breath catches and then he moves. Ignores everyone else in the room to get to Rufus, hands on either side of his face to kiss him. He has no shame about this, especially in front of Rufus's Turks.

Well, it's a little unexpected, and there is a small laugh from Rufus as Reeve grabs his face, before he returns the kiss with only a little less passion than Reeve; someone has to keep the people around them from getting more of a show than necessary.

Still, the hands that come between them, scratching slightly at the man's chest before very gently pressing him away show that he will show more passion later, when they are alone.

"It's good to see you, Reeve..." He looks the man over with a smirk, drawing his hands back slowly. "However, I don't think we should give Elena any further material to enjoy, should we?"

"Heyyy..." Yup, said Turk is pouting behind her boss, while Tseng just looks mildly amused.

Frankly Rufus is lucky his men aren't getting more of a show. Because Reeve would have been happy to start divesting him then and there. As it was, he does take the push for the meaning it's meant to convey, and backs up a step.

"I'm more concerned about Reno," Reeve smiles, ignoring any noises that might earn. But he does nod to Elena and Tseng in turn. "I'm very glad to see you both safe. What you did was brave, even if it was an order, and likely made all the difference. I saw what happened with Kadaj when he finally got his hands on the cells. If he had been allowed more time for Sephiroth to settle in..."

Well, that would have been bad and that didn't need saying.

Rufus smiles at the comment about Reno, understanding fully what Reeve means. Though Reno has seen a few thingw, merely due to having to tend his boss because of the Stigma; something Reeve doesn't need to think about.

Tseng will just give a nod to the compliment, his view on such things obviously known well enough to Reeve, even as Elena just smiles a little at it, before asking curiously. "What did you get for us? Last time we got leftovers from what you brought, they were really good."

"There's a Gongagan restaurant between here and my office. It's all hearty foods. Stews and roasts. Got both, because it seemed right. There's also rolls, a spiced rice dish with raisins and caraway, and some of the best mashed sweet potatoes I've ever had."

There was a lot to be said for it. And he smiled at Elena.

"Only the best for heroes."

"Now you're just buttering my Turks up, Reeve." Rufus laces his hand into one of Reeve's, while Elena just looks a bit excited at the prospect of a good meal. No offense to Vincent would ever be meant, but he didn't serve near as good of food as the meal Reeve brought sounded to be. "They already like you well enough."

"But good food helps!" Reno pokes his head in from around the kitchen door as he shouts, "The booze don't hurt, either. Also, table's set. Come eat before I take it all."

"Don't even joke about such a thing!" Elena takes off for the door as she says this, meaning business in the way only the youngest of a group could. "I haven't had anything but hotel food and what Vincent could scrounge up in far too long!"

Tseng turns to glance at Rufus and Reeve as Elena disappears, moving as soon as he's done speaking. "You should probably give it a minute before you come in."

Rufus just smirks, looking at Reeve. "Totally dysfunctional family."

"But they are yours," Reeve smiles, looking at Rufus with a soft smile. A very soft smile. He moves to put an arm around Rufus's waist. "A better one than your father. You've found good people, love. I'm happy for you."

In a way, Reeve is jealous. But he doesn't touch it at all.

Rufus chuckles softly at the remark, turning so that Reeve will have to re-adjust if he wants to wrap his arm, since the younger man will have turned to bring himself against Reeve, wrapping his arms around his neck and leaning up to kiss him quite deeply before drawing back and giving an apologetic smile.

"I am afraid that, after dinner, we will have to talk seriously about how things might change now that I'm sure people know I'm alive."

Change. A moment of fear flashes over Reeve's face. He doesn't want to lose his lover. But he doesn't know how to make this work either. Which is why he will take Rufus's suggestions very seriously. The man is more... strategic in some manners than Reeve ever was.

"You're not wrong. Just promise me that when we do, you're going to be approaching it from the assumption that we're going to try and keep this."

Rufus tilts his head, a bit of confusion written on his face. "Why would I do different? I admit I am terrible at acting romantically, even about saying things like "I love you," but I don't see why I would act like this was just a fling.

"You're interesting, keep me in some check, are quite good in bed, and I like very much feeling important to someone." He seems done, before grinning and leaning near Reeve's ear to speak quietly. "Besides, for some reason, I do love you."

Oh. Reeve smiles. This is just the best thing. His lover healed, happy with his family, and he just wants to kiss Rufus. Happiness is great.

"We should get to your family's dinner," he says, happy. "They will eat it all without us otherwise."

"Reeve will make sure they don't." Rufus assures, staying where he is for a moment, watching Reeve. "Although, if I am honest, I still don't quite understand why it is I have become infatuated with you... something we can explore tonight?"

Should they explore it? Reeve almost worries for half a second, then he dismisses it. Instead he kisses Rufus's brow and heads toward the area where food was waiting.

He needed to eat.

"Perhaps we can."

Rufus wouldn't let Reeve worry too much. He wasn't worried himself, was just merely exploring, and questioning things as he was wont to do. Usually, it was a very good side, as most people and things didn't keep that much of his attention.

Yet he knows better than to bring it up during dinner, instead choosing to enjoy the food and the company. Though at one point, Rufus does grin at Reeve and decides to screw the Turks being there to see if the older man will let himself be fed by Rufus' hand.

Rufus really does fail to understand some of what Reeve was happy to cater to Rufus's desires. He doesn't mind staying there, opening his mouth and even sucking a little on Rufus's fingers because...

Because why should he care? The Turks have heard them together, they know about how the two of them together.

Rufus chuckles softly at Reeve sucking at his fingers, ignoring the almost jealous look from Reno, and the lack of reactions from Tseng and Rude. Elena herself doesn't hide the giggle she gives off.

Aside from that, Rufus and the Turks do seem to behave themselves at dinner; even Reno.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject